Everton Football Club are confident that plans for a new stadium in neighbouring Kirkby could still go-ahead despite the government calling in the scheme.

A public inquiry could add a year to the planning process and the club accept that costs will rise.

But in a statement, Everton officials said: "It is important to stress that this decision does not spell the end of the Destination Kirkby project - but it will, self-evidently, precipitate a period of reflection, assessment and re-evaluation.

"We are disappointed by the decision. Having spent more than two years working diligently on a project which would not only provide Everton Football Club with a new home but also regenerate Kirkby, we had hoped to avoid a government call-in."

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "We recognise that there have been strong views expressed about this complex proposal. Ministers thought long and hard about the case and decided the only appropriate decision was to call it in."

Plans to relocate from the famous Goodison park ground have outraged large sections of Everton's support. Club owners believe moving to alarger ground is the only way to compete with the "top four" teams.